Instructions
Proud Flesh Treatment
Call your veterinarian to determine the appropriate course of action. If the proud flesh is mild, a steroid ointment may be applied to the proud flesh to inhibit additional growth. Moderate or severe proud flesh will require surgery.
If surgery is required, your veterinarian will remove the proud flesh with a scalpel while your horse is standing. This surgery is painless for your horse but will result in significant bleeding.
Bandage the wound immediately after treatment.
Follow your veterinarian's directions for aftercare. Change any bandages at least once daily. If steroid ointment was used, additional ointment may need to be applied. Ask your veterinarian if antibiotic ointment should be applied.
Try to immobilize the area to encourage healing. This may mean confining your horse to a stall.
Check for changes to the wound every day. Make sure the wound is healing. Keep the wound tightly bandaged. Call your veterinarian at the first sign of infection or proud flesh regrowth.
Proud Flesh Prevention
Clean and treat any wounds immediately. Call your veterinarian if there is a possibility the wound needs to be sutured.
Use pressure bandages to hold the edges of the wound together and reduce tissue growth.
Apply antibiotic cream to the wound to guard against infection.
Avoid removing any scabs that form over the wound.
Administer anti-inflammatory medication as directed by your veterinarian.
Keep your horse on stall rest until the wound is healed.
How to Treat Proud Flesh
Proud flesh is a common problem with wounds on a horse's lower legs. Granulation tissue grows to help heal the wound, but in some cases, it grows out, protruding from the wound like pink cauliflower. Proud flesh interferes with skin cells growing over the wound and can grow to be larger than the size of the original wound. Proud flesh occurs most often in wounds on joints and other places with lots of movement, in wounds on areas without much muscle (such as lower legs) and in wounds that become infected. Because proud flesh interferes with the healing process, quick and effective treatment is necessary.